4 ms·

Hmmm, I don't know. If it's not filling the function of a phone, don't market it as one. > * 2FA token generator These already exist and are much more secure.

Hmmm, I don't know. If it's not filling the function of a phone, don't market it as one. > * 2FA token generator These already exist and are much more secure. > * IoT remote No thanks > * retro game console No thanks > * modern game platform (think pokedex etc) No thanks > * educational hacking Ok, I do agree it is interesting from this perspective. I get your overall point, but I still think it's a valid criticism.

tlrobinson 8y ago
You're missing the point, which I agree with shezi is "it's a wonderful package for an ESP32". If you don't want a standalone WiFi phone and can't think of any other useful projects to use it for, then don't buy it, but I most likely will (depending on the cost) because I love this kind of stuff.
- liamcardenas 8y ago
  You are right. I was being needlessly snarky in response to his proposed use cases. My main point, though, was that it is reasonable to expect something marketed as a phone to have LTE/cellular capabilities. I don’t think “Show HN: an ESP32 with LCD display — think of all the possibilities!” would hit the front page.
  - DKnoll 8y ago
    Lots of desktop and mobile SIP clients are sold as phones despite having only ethernet or WiFi. You probably have one on your desk at work. If it can make phone calls, it's a phone. I think you mean 'cellphone.'
  - catherd 8y ago
    You're right as well :) But I think it's the stuff we did to take it from ESP32+LCD (which there are thousands of) and make it more like a phone are what makes it useful. Not having to build your own power supply and battery charger every time you start a new project is pretty useful. Or a nice enclosure with buttons that work right, feel nice, and are splash proof, etc., etc. It is technically a phone. Just not one many people would want to replace their smartphones with. Home phone or backup phone maybe. We aren't marketing it as a smartphone replacement. The mobile form factor is useful and not just an evil marketing trick.
    - em-bee 8y ago
      in my mind, calling it a "phone" automatically implies a smartphone replacement, so finding out that it's not does feel like a let-down even if that wasn't your intention. and yes, the form-factor does make this awesome. how about calling it a wifi-phone? it would immediately make the limitation clear and avoid disappointment for those like me who are seeking a replacement for their regular phone.
      - catherd 8y ago
        Well, it is called WiPhone... There is a pretty clear issue with people getting grumpy once they learn it's not a bleeding edge smartphone. I don't know how to solve it. Open to suggestions, but I think calling it a phone is perfectly reasonable and doesn't imply it's a smartphone. Just because all the big phone makers have sold us the idea that LTE and an OS you can play games on is absolutely essential doesn't mean this isn't a phone.
        em-bee 8y ago
        i meant the reference to a phone as in: WiPhone: A professionally-packaged Arduino wifi-phone or in the tag line WiPhone: An Open Source Wifi-Phone That's Really Yours the definition of a phone for me is a device that i can use make phone-calls 100% of the time and send sms messages. today that implies cell phone (GSM) support. it does not imply a smartphone, especially not a bleeding edge one, nor the ability to play games. (although games on the arduino are actually possible) btw: i have been traveling without a sim-card before (because i did not have roaming) and the success of finding wifi was more like 20% rather than 80%. rather frustrating.
mrb 8y ago
"it's not filling the function of a phone" At the very minimum, it matches and surpasses the capabilities of a landline phone (since it works at home where there's WiFi.)
- liamcardenas 8y ago
  Touché :)
- ams6110 8y ago
  VoIP can be iffy with home ISPs. I have it and the quality varies from excellent to unusably bad. I assume it's due to inconsistent latency.
  - catherd 8y ago
    Do you have QoS enabled on your router?
- mruts 8y ago
  Not really, landlines work when the power is out. WiFi doesn’t.
  - tinus_hn 8y ago
    If you have POTS and a wired phone. Probably dependent on your location but both are becoming pretty rare.

tlrobinson 8y ago

You're missing the point, which I agree with shezi is "it's a wonderful package for an ESP32". If you don't want a standalone WiFi phone and can't think of any other useful projects to use it for, then don't buy it, but I most likely will (depending on the cost) because I love this kind of stuff.

liamcardenas 8y ago
You are right. I was being needlessly snarky in response to his proposed use cases. My main point, though, was that it is reasonable to expect something marketed as a phone to have LTE/cellular capabilities. I don’t think “Show HN: an ESP32 with LCD display — think of all the possibilities!” would hit the front page.
- DKnoll 8y ago
  Lots of desktop and mobile SIP clients are sold as phones despite having only ethernet or WiFi. You probably have one on your desk at work. If it can make phone calls, it's a phone. I think you mean 'cellphone.'
- catherd 8y ago
  You're right as well :) But I think it's the stuff we did to take it from ESP32+LCD (which there are thousands of) and make it more like a phone are what makes it useful. Not having to build your own power supply and battery charger every time you start a new project is pretty useful. Or a nice enclosure with buttons that work right, feel nice, and are splash proof, etc., etc. It is technically a phone. Just not one many people would want to replace their smartphones with. Home phone or backup phone maybe. We aren't marketing it as a smartphone replacement. The mobile form factor is useful and not just an evil marketing trick.
  - em-bee 8y ago
    in my mind, calling it a "phone" automatically implies a smartphone replacement, so finding out that it's not does feel like a let-down even if that wasn't your intention. and yes, the form-factor does make this awesome. how about calling it a wifi-phone? it would immediately make the limitation clear and avoid disappointment for those like me who are seeking a replacement for their regular phone.
    - catherd 8y ago
      Well, it is called WiPhone... There is a pretty clear issue with people getting grumpy once they learn it's not a bleeding edge smartphone. I don't know how to solve it. Open to suggestions, but I think calling it a phone is perfectly reasonable and doesn't imply it's a smartphone. Just because all the big phone makers have sold us the idea that LTE and an OS you can play games on is absolutely essential doesn't mean this isn't a phone.
      - em-bee 8y ago
        i meant the reference to a phone as in: WiPhone: A professionally-packaged Arduino wifi-phone or in the tag line WiPhone: An Open Source Wifi-Phone That's Really Yours the definition of a phone for me is a device that i can use make phone-calls 100% of the time and send sms messages. today that implies cell phone (GSM) support. it does not imply a smartphone, especially not a bleeding edge one, nor the ability to play games. (although games on the arduino are actually possible) btw: i have been traveling without a sim-card before (because i did not have roaming) and the success of finding wifi was more like 20% rather than 80%. rather frustrating.

mrb 8y ago

"it's not filling the function of a phone" At the very minimum, it matches and surpasses the capabilities of a landline phone (since it works at home where there's WiFi.)

liamcardenas 8y ago
Touché :)
ams6110 8y ago
VoIP can be iffy with home ISPs. I have it and the quality varies from excellent to unusably bad. I assume it's due to inconsistent latency.
- catherd 8y ago
  Do you have QoS enabled on your router?
mruts 8y ago
Not really, landlines work when the power is out. WiFi doesn’t.
- tinus_hn 8y ago
  If you have POTS and a wired phone. Probably dependent on your location but both are becoming pretty rare.